Three cases of chronic subdural hematoma with depressive state

Abstract

The authors described 3 cases of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) with a depressive state. There were no abnormal findings from general and neurological examinations. Computed tomographic (CT) brain scans revealed sickle-shaped low density areas in the bilateral frontal lobes. Two of the 3 cases had not had episodes of head contusion, and it was not until the CT brain scanning that they were found to have CSDH. Evacuation of the hematomas was not considered suitable and the depressive state of these 2 cases was improved by antidepressants. The remaining case seemed to have become depressive because of failure in business. After the head contusion, his depressive state gradually became more severe. A neurosurgical operation was carried out to evacuate the hematoma. CSDH seemed to aggravate his depressive state. These 3 cases show that CSDH located in the bilateral frontal lobes may cause and/or influence affective disorder.